Interstate 695 / Southeast Freeway
East-west Interstate 695 is the hidden Interstate number for the Southeast Freeway. Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway connects Interstate 395 south of the capital complex with the Pennsylvania Avenue interchange. Midway between these two points is the split between Interstate 695 east and Interstate 295 south. Interstate 695 was proposed to be extended from the Pennsylvania Avenue interchange northeast to U.S. 50/New York Avenue on the west bank of the Anacostia River. From there, Interstate 695 would flow into the current District of Columbia 295/U.S. 50 interchange and come to its end (even though neither District of Columbia 295 nor U.S. 50 are Interstates). The Barney Circle Freeway is listed in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Route Log as part of Interstate 295 and shown in early Washington freeway plans as Interstate 295, but more recent plans referred to it as Interstate 695. Either way, the Barney Circle Freeway extension was denied and canceled due to community opposition; therefore, Interstate 695 acts more like a stub freeway than a through freeway.
More recent moves made by Washington, DC officials and AASHTO results in the truncation of the Interstate 695 mileage along the Southeast Freeway east of the 11th Street Bridge and the extension of Interstate 695 southward across the Anacostia River to the interchange with District of Columbia 295 (Anacostia Freeway) north and Interstate 295 south. This swap with Interstate 295 across the Anacostia coincides with planned interchange upgrades between the 11th Street Bridge and the Anacostia Freeway to create full connectivity between the two freeways. It is expected that once that work is done, Interstate 695 will be fully signed along its route.
09/25/04, 06/22/05 & 01/02/08 photos taken by Alex Nitzman.
| Interstate 695 East |
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Interstate 695 begins and rises above Interstate 395 (Center Leg Freeway). Interchanges are unnumbered along the Southeast Freeway and the first exit connects with South Capitol Street as it leaves the U.S. Capitol area for Washington Nationals Park and the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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South Capitol Street carries four overall lanes between Washington Avenue near Interstate 695 and Suitland Parkway near its interchange with Interstate 295. The 6th Street SE ramp quickly follows in one quarter mile to Southeast Federal center and Washington Navy Yard. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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Interstate 695 nears the 6th Street SE off-ramp on the 0.75 mile approach to Interstate 296 (11th Street Bridge) south. The Southeast Freeway continues from Interstate 295 to Pennsylvania Avenue. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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The Interstate 695 viaduct reaches the 6th Street S.E. ramp departure for the Washington Navy Yard. The ramp forms the Virginia Avenue SE frontage road, connecting travelers with 6th Street SE and 8th Street SE. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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The next exit along eastbound Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway is the junction with Interstate 295 south. Interstate 295 presently follows the 11th Street Bridges across the Anacostia River to the Anacostia Freeway south. When interchange upgrades are completed between the 11th Street Bridge and District of Columbia 295 north, it is expected that Interstate 695 will be signed southward across the river. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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Eastbound Interstate 695 at junction Interstate 295 south to the Anacostia Freeway. South of the Anacostia River, Interstate 295 defaults onto the Anacostia River without access to District of Columbia 295 north. A ramp also connects with Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue south to Good Hope Road and Congress Heights.
Interstate 295 south otherwise follows the east bank of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers before ending at the Capital Beltway (Interstates 95/495) just east of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. This interchange marks the current northern terminus of Interstate 295. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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After passing the off ramp from eastbound Interstate 695 to southbound Interstate 295, the freeway continues for another 0.75 mile until it reaches Pennsylvania Avenue, which provides access to northbound District of Columbia 295. Note the flyover ramp from Interstate 295 north to Interstate 695 west in the distance. The two ramps connecting Interstate 295 with the Southeast Freeway east were dismantled since these photos were taken, as the freeway is slated to be converted into a surface boulevard in the near future. Photo taken 06/02/03. |
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Sinking below the 11th Street SE overpass within the Interstate 295 stack interchange. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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The Southeast Freeway continues east one half mile to Pennsylvania Avenue. The two aforementioned ramps removed are pictured here. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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This odd sign along eastbound warns of the impending end of the Interstate 695 freeway. Despite what the arrows on these signs might infer, all traffic must exit onto the Pennsylvania Avenue exit. "Do Not Enter" signs are present at the gore point for the exit; this ramp is an active ramp that acts as one of the primary routes into Robert F. Kennedy Stadium (former home of the Washington Redskins) as well as provide emergency access to a nearby hospital. (Thanks to Paul Rizzo, 09/02/04, for the additional information.) Photos taken 06/22/05. |
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The Southeast Freeway ends; all traffic is directed to the Pennsylvania Avenue exit. Beyond the gore point is the unused underpass that would have carried Interstate 695 onto the cancelled Barney Circle Freeway. The Barney Circle Freeway was counted within the Interstate 295 mileage in the Federal Highway Administration's Route Log and Finder List until 2009. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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A directional ramp carries motorists from Pennsylvania Avenue west onto the Southeast Freeway west. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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The Pennsylvania Avenue off-ramp defaults traffic onto the John Phillip Sousa Bridge across the Anacostia River. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
| Pennsylvania Avenue East |
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Pennsylvania Avenue carries traffic between the east end of the Southeast Freeway across the Anacostia River to junction District of Columbia 295 (Anacostia Freeway). Pennsylvania Avenue in effect acts as an expressway (not freeway) connection to complete a link missing in Washington's freeway grid. This picture shows eastbound Pennsylvania Avenue as it crosses the bridge and approaches District of Columbia 295. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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Now leaving the John Phillip Sousa Bridge, eastbound Pennsylvania Avenue approaches a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with District of Columbia 295 (Anacostia Freeway). District of Columbia 295 was a "state" route created in 1994. Shields were affixed to these sign bridges but not onto the guide signs themselves. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
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A left-hand turn at a signalized intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue west is required to join the District of Columbia 295 northbound. D.C. 295 heads northeast to Kenilworth Avenue and the Benning section of the city. Photo taken 06/22/05. |
| Interstate 695 West |
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Interstate 695 travels a viaduct between the northern terminus of Interstate 295 from the 11th Street Bridge and the junction with Interstate 395 in downtown Washington. The four-lane freeway defaults onto Interstate 395 southbound for Arlington and Northern Virginia. The right-hand lane serves Interstate 395 northbound underneath the National Mall to junction U.S. 50 (New York Avenue). Photo taken 09/25/04. |
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Traffic to Interstate 395 northbound in the right-hand lane segregates from the Southeast Freeway mainline briefly before returning ahead of the directional interchange with Interstate 395. Drivers bound for the Convention Center or MCI Center should continue ahead to the 6th Street off-ramp from the Southwest Freeway (Interstate 395). Photo taken 09/25/04. |
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Interstate 695 nears its western terminus at the partitioning of traffic for Interstate 395 north to the U.S. Capitol and Eckington and Interstate 395 south for East Potomac Park and Arlington. Photo taken 09/25/04. |
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Downtown traffic interests should remain on Interstate 695 west to Interstate 395 south for the 6th Street and D Street off-ramps. Interstate 395 northbound truckers should be aware of the height restrictions associated with the National Mall tunnel between Independence Avenue (U.S. 50 Alternate) and Constitution Avenue. Photo taken 09/25/04. |
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The South Capitol Street on-ramp to Interstate 695 west partitions into ramps for Interstate 395 north & D Street SW and Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) south. Interstate 695 west defaults onto Interstate 395 south ahead. Photo taken 09/25/04. |
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Interstate 695 draws to a silent end at the merge with Interstate 395 south. The Southwest Freeway carries Interstate 395 to the George Mason Bridge and Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
Page Updated September 17, 2009.
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